My test drive experience

[Icebun]

Just been in a test drive in a Premium Plus model. No other variants available. Must say that the steering and handling was very good.

 

When on the motorway, the engine was a little vocal as it was making its way up to the legal limit but settled down nicely. I did detect some road noise but appreciate that this does depend on the road surface.

 

Even though the hip point is lower, entry and exit from the car was easy. Much easier than my current car, a VW Golf 7.

 

Just got a couple of question for LBX owners.

 

Rear Seats

Do you find the rear legroom snug? I am 5 foot 7 inches in height and when adjusted for my size, the seat behind was tight. I also found that the rear doors did not open very wide either. I only got 30 minutes with the car so only managed a quick sit in the back at the end of the test drive. In comparison, I felt my VW had slightly better rear room and wider rear door access.

 

Active Noise Control/Acoustic glass

For that that have a model grade from Takumi and above. Can I have your comments with regard to the above? Did you find it makes any difference to the road roar and engine noise? I will be wanting to use this on the motorway often and am hoping the ANC and special glass will make a difference to the refinement in this area. 

 

[Expatma]

I was pleased when I heard that Lexus were introducing a small but luxurious crossover/SUV. Contacted Lexus and they brought a Premium Plus to my house for us to try, initial impressions were that it was a handsome vehicle with a great road presence. However, I was surprised how low the seats were, not much higher than a small hatchback and much lower than the Yaris Cross architecture on which it is based. The main reasons buyers state for preferring Crossovers/SUV's is the elevated driving position but Lexus have chosen to totally ignore that and instead have designed the LBX as a slightly higher hatchback. I can't help but think Lexus have made a big mistake as they have targeted the LBX at the affluent young and buyers looking to retain the advantages of larger SUV's in a much smaller vehicle. Both of these buying groups prefer higher riding and seating cars. So why did Lexus go low?

[JimmyfromLargs]

Icebun,

 

I have a Premium Design Plus on order it is due for arrival in early May.

 

Rear Seats

I think are tight, no debate on that. There is less room than a Golf 7.5 ( my current 2nd Car ) which the Lexus is replacing.

 

Active Noise Control et

I stopped at the Premium Design plus as my wife wanted the 2 tone look and I would have had to almost go to a Takumi Design etc to get that look. To be honest the LBX is a daily driver it does not be perfect. I spoke with a product genius at Lexus Glasgow they told me the Takumi as 5 layers of sound deadening compared to 3 in the Premium etc. So I would think it will be better…..my other car is for long journeys anyway.

 

What I really want is an LBX with a LOT more power……I guess that will come. 

[Winstanley]

On 4/1/2024 at 2:35 PM, Expatma said:

 I was surprised how low the seats were, not much higher than a small hatchback and much lower than the Yaris Cross architecture on which it is based. The main reasons buyers state for preferring Crossovers/SUV's is the elevated driving position but Lexus have chosen to totally ignore that and instead have designed the LBX as a slightly higher hatchback. I can't help but think Lexus have made a big mistake as they have targeted the LBX at the affluent young and buyers looking to retain the advantages of larger SUV's in a much smaller vehicle. Both of these buying groups prefer higher riding and seating cars. So why did Lexus go low?

I have a RAV4 and am looking to downsize but I do really like the high riding position in my RAV4.

Trying to find a small SUV with a decent high riding position is hard so it's disappointing that the LBX seems to be one of the lowest in that class (from what I've seen so far).

That and the lack of power is making me think twice but at least it has more oomph than the Yaris Cross.

I watched a review on YouTube yesterday, I think it was by Which Car but can't say for sure, however the reviewer said the seating position in the LBX was only 1.5cm lower than the Yaris Cross.

Would you say it was very noticeable?

[Icebun]

The ride height on my VW Golf 7 is quite low and getting out of that car a tad difficult (for me anyway).

When I test drove the LBX, I did not have any difficulty getting in and out of the car as I would have noticed this straight away.

For me the rear seat legroom and narrower opening of the rear doors was more disappointing. That and the noise when accelerating.

In terms of other small SUVs, there is the VW T-Cross (my other half has one) which I am considering with the 148 BHP engine as an alternative to the LBX as it is like a Tardis inside with more space inside than my Golf despite being shorter in length. It rides pretty well, has a high seating position and is quite refined even at motorway speeds.

I am still on the fence at the moment on what to purchase and have noted the comments around the cost of insurance , never mind the higher service costs. However, on the plus side is the build quality, reliability and 10 year warranty. All hopefully adding to less ownership stress.

Every car  I have purchased from new has had problems (rattles, squeaks, mechanical faults etc). Really hoping that if I go down the Lexus route I will not have to face this (well not as much anyway).

 

[Don C]

13 hours ago, Winstanley said:

I have a RAV4 and am looking to downsize but I do really like the high riding position in my RAV4.

Trying to find a small SUV with a decent high riding position is hard so it's disappointing that the LBX seems to be one of the lowest in that class (from what I've seen so far).

That and the lack of power is making me think twice but at least it has more oomph than the Yaris Cross.

I watched a review on YouTube yesterday, I think it was by Which Car but can't say for sure, however the reviewer said the seating position in the LBX was only 1.5cm lower than the Yaris Cross.

Would you say it was very noticeable?

Have a look at a Yaris Cross.  It’s just like a mini RAV4 but it’s higher than an LBX.

[Guest]

On 4/1/2024 at 2:35 PM, Expatma said:

Both of these buying groups prefer higher riding and seating cars. So why did Lexus go low?

Speaking solely for myself, I'm 28 and have just been given a fairly high spec new 'Vauxhall Grandland' crossover thing as a courtesy car. This only reaffirms to me that unless it's a proper, stable, large 4x4 like car - I don't want it. I drove a relatives old Vauxhall Zafira and later, Peugeot 2008 (before they got ultra stylish) and this is every bit the same car underneath, a big, empty space, van with more stylishly rounded edges, and it handles that way too. I have no interested in these 'crossovers', they are just modernised people carriers to me.  

Perhaps Lexus and some of the more premium / more expensive brands drive better? (Scored out more expensive, because this Vauxhall monstrosity cost the same as a Lexus UX!) 

Toyota going for the 'crossover styling' makes sense to me even with the Aygo 'X' and the Yaris 'Cross' / Lexus LBX. The closer they can keep it to a hatchback / lower and better handling, the happier I'll be. 

Cars can be 'normal cars' and still easy to get into, look at city cars with tall profiles like the Fiat Panda etc, those are very easy to get into and favoured by older people. Equally (more so in mainland Europe) young people don't see the stigma of them being old people cars as much, they're used / appreciated as flexible young family cars too on a shoestring budget. 

All of this SUV styling and 'crossover' stuff other than for the Motability scheme buyers who probably genuinely do appreciate the space and the ride height, I think is more the mainstream car makers forcing it on us all, because there's simply no other way to hide the batteries in the EV powertrain configurations elegantly. 

Now that the CT is gone and not being replaced, the LBX is probably the next model for me to graduate to down the line. If it's closer to a hatchback than a crossover / MPV, I'm happy with that. I hope it sells. Although I know a couple of people I know who drove and loved various regular Yaris models over the last 20 years test drove the Yaris Cross, only to go for a Corolla in the end up as it drove noticeably better / more refined. I wonder if the Lexus refinement solves that (albeit, at a cost)

[Bezzer]

You're not going to get anywhere near the driving position of a Rav4 with a Yaris Cross or any other of the smaller SUV types. We came from a Rav to downsize as we'd stopped caravanning and tried all of them including the Yaris Cross. That was discounted as it felt too cramped together at the front and the rear view is abysmal with the rear headrests all but blocking it. Ended up with the the UX which ticked all the boxes for us bar ride height, no regrets.

[colsay]

21 hours ago, Icebun said:

The ride height on my VW Golf 7 is quite low and getting out of that car a tad difficult (for me anyway).

When I test drove the LBX, I did not have any difficulty getting in and out of the car as I would have noticed this straight away.

For me the rear seat legroom and narrower opening of the rear doors was more disappointing. That and the noise when accelerating.

In terms of other small SUVs, there is the VW T-Cross (my other half has one) which I am considering with the 148 BHP engine as an alternative to the LBX as it is like a Tardis inside with more space inside than my Golf despite being shorter in length. It rides pretty well, has a high seating position and is quite refined even at motorway speeds.

I am still on the fence at the moment on what to purchase and have noted the comments around the cost of insurance , never mind the higher service costs. However, on the plus side is the build quality, reliability and 10 year warranty. All hopefully adding to less ownership stress.

Every car  I have purchased from new has had problems (rattles, squeaks, mechanical faults etc). Really hoping that if I go down the Lexus route I will not have to face this (well not as much anyway).

 

I have previously owned a Golf 7.5. The rear seat space in the LBX and access as you mention is tight, not as spacious as a Golf. However I did not have a good experience with VW service plus I wanted a full hybrid so for me VW were not an option. Less than a month of ownership to date so early days but so far very pleased with the purchase. 

With regard to insurance I got acceptable quotes from both Admiral and NFU; I expect other insurers will add the LBX to their databases in due course. 

[Don C]

On 4/22/2024 at 8:50 AM, Bezzer said:

You're not going to get anywhere near the driving position of a Rav4 with a Yaris Cross or any other of the smaller SUV types. We came from a Rav to downsize as we'd stopped caravanning and tried all of them including the Yaris Cross. That was discounted as it felt too cramped together at the front and the rear view is abysmal with the rear headrests all but blocking it. Ended up with the the UX which ticked all the boxes for us bar ride height, no regrets.

I came from a Cross and it was noticeably higher than this UX.  Nowhere near the quality though.